1. United Provinces of Central America: Constitution

2. Overview ● Also called Central American Federation ● Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua

3. History of the Provinces ● Originally part of the viceroyalty of New Spain ● 1821: became independent of Spain ● 1822: joined Mexican Empire (ruler: Augustín de Iturbide) ● March 1823: Iturbide’s abdication, upper-class Creole representatives gathered in Guatemala City to form federal republic

4. Constitution ● Capital=Guatemala City ● Federal President ● Governor for each of the 5 states ● Each state had local autonomy ● Only upper class could vote ● Slavery abolished ● Roman Catholic Church privileges were retained ● 1825: first president elected=Manuel José Arce

5. Bibliography http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/616533/United-Provinces-of- Central-America http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/historyofcentralamerica/a/09rep ublicofCA.htm http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coat_of_arms_of_the_United_Provi nces_of_Central_America.svg